G T Five Hundred takes on seven in Grade 2 bet365 Connaught Cup
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TORONTO, July 17, 2026 – Veteran campaigner G T Five Hundred will make his 44th start in Sunday’s $200,000 bet365 Connaught Cup Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine.
A 6-year-old son of Astern (AUS) out of the Mineshaft mare Cocoanut Row, G T Five Hundred will contest his third straight race at the graded stakes level, this time in the 7 ½-furlong event for 3-year-olds and up, run on the inner turf.
Trained by Dale Desruisseaux, the gelding, who has competed at 10 different U.S. racetracks, heads into his latest engagement off a third in the Highlander Stakes (G2T), a 5-furlong inner turf event for 4-year-olds and up.
“He likes to go longer, but I thought it was a very good all-around effort,” said Desruisseaux. “I was happy with it. We are taking the blinkers off him for this race. Whether it is a good decision or not, we will find out. But you look at his résumé, and you see a horse who has raced at a lot of different places and gives an honest effort wherever he is.”
G T Five Hundred’s first appearance at Woodbine yielded a win in the Thorncliffe Stakes on May 3, a gritty neck score at 5 ½ furlongs over the main track in the race for 4-year-olds and up. One race later, on May 30, he was sixth in the Jacques Cartier (G3), contested at 6 furlongs on the main track.
“He’s a sprinter, but he has the stature and build of a two-turn horse,” said Desruisseaux. “He also has a really nice stride to him, too.”
Centennial Farms Niagara, nom du course of Dominic DiLalla, purchased GT Five Hundred after the March Digital Sale at Fasig-Tipton.
He launched his career with three starts at Horseshoe Indianapolis in 2022 and finished fourth in his curtain-raising effort. He broke his maiden in his sixth race, a 4 ¾-length score at 6 furlongs over the Oaklawn Park dirt on Feb. 24, 2023.
G T Five Hundred’s stakes breakthrough came this February at Turfway Park, a head triumph for trainer Michael Maker in the Forego at 6 ½ panels over the all-weather track. He stopped the teletimer in 1:18.26 and returned $13.92 for the milestone victory.
Bred in Kentucky by Joe B. Mulholland, Jr., John P. Mulholland and Karen Mulholland, G T Five Hundred sports a mark of 10-6-7 with purse earnings of $573,915.
Troy Garnett is the groom.
Piper’s Factor, a homebred for Chiefswood Stables, set the track record, 1:27.77, at 7 ½ furlongs on the inner turf, in his most recent start on June 20.
The 5-year-old son of The Factor out of the Niigon mare Pipers Future will be ridden by Fraser Aebly.
“I have been in races against him before,” said Aebly. “He’s a nice horse – he set the track record last time – and I was in that race. I’m grateful to get this opportunity to ride him in this race and to do it for these connections. They have had a lot of success over the years and hopefully, we can add to that.”
Trained by Katerina Vassilieva, Piper’s Factor breezed 4 furlongs in :48.20 over the main track on July 12.
“It was good to get a feel for him,” said Aebly. “He relaxed very nicely for me, so that was a good chance to see the talent that he has. We got along very well together and hopefully it carries over to Sunday.”
Recent works: On July 11, G T Five Hundred covered 4 furlongs on the main track in :48.40.
“He’s never run without blinkers, but he trains well without them,” said Desruisseaux. “It was a good work, which wasn’t a surprise because he’s a very good work horse. He goes out like a professional and does exactly what you need to. That’s what we have come to expect and there are never any surprises.”
Fast Facts: Hall of Fame jockey Robin Platts has won a record eight editions of the Connaught Cup, including back-to-back successes (1968-69) with James Bay. Plate Glass won the first two runnings, in 1912 and 1913.
Wagering menu for the Connaught Cup: Includes Rolling Double / Exacta / 0.20 Trifecta / 0.20 Superfecta / 0.20 Pick 3 (Races 11-12-13) / 0.20 Pick 4 (Races 11-12-13-14) / $1 Swinger
Field for the bet365 Connaught Cup (G2T)
Post – Horse – Jockey – Trainer
1 – King Size – John Velazquez – Michael Stidham
2 – Awesome Bourbon – Romero Ramsay Maragh – Abraham Katryan
3 – Maycocks Bay – Sofia Vives – Michael Stidham
4 – Wyoming Bill – Emma-Jayne Wilson – Catherine Day Phillips
5 – G T Five Hundred – Jose Campos – Dale Desruisseaux
6 – Piper’s Factor – Fraser Aebly – Katerina Vassilieva
7 – Irish Aces – Pietro Moran – Brendan Walsh
8 – Magna Time – Luis Reyes – Kevin Attard
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Chris Lomon, Woodbine
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